July is the month when watering your garden can become a bit of a chore here in the PNW. Keeping plants well-watered can put stress on you and your wallet. So why not plant perennials that need minimal water* AND provide a summer full of flowers for you and the bees and butterflies?! Another bonus: they are not finicky about soil – in fact, well-drained, sandier soil is preferable for many.
While this list is by no means comprehensive, it’s a great place to start! Be sure to talk with one of our plant experts for more ideas on water-wise plants.
- Achillea (Yarrow) – grows about 2 feet tall and comes in shades of white, yellow, orange, red, pink. It’s good for cutting and pollinators love it!
- Baptisia (Wild Indigo) – grows 3+ feet tall and comes in assorted colors. Its flowers look similar to Lupine and bumblebees can’t resist it!
- Delosperma (Hardy Ice Plant) – grows just 2 inches tall and makes a succulent carpet of color. Available in LOTS of shades. Thrives with good drainage – plant in gritty soil or fine gravel.
- Eryngium (Sea Holly) – grows 2-3+ feet tall with distinctive, prickly flowers that look like starbursts. A unique and long-lasting addition to flower arrangements.
- Euphorbia (Spurge) – size is variable depending on species/cultivar. This group of perennials is typically evergreen and blooms with yellow, green, or orange bracts and boasts highly ornamental foliage.
- Helianthemum (Sun Rose) – low growing and long-blooming, it’s usually not more than 10 inches tall. Available in lots of colors; white, yellow, orange, pink, red. The evergreen foliage is a bonus.
- Lavandula (Lavender) – typically grows 2-3 feet tall but is variable depending on species/cultivar. Bees and butterflies can’t get enough of these plants – they are easy to love!
- Nepeta (Cat Mint) – grows 2-3 feet depending on species/cultivar. Beloved by pollinators of all kinds. Available in shades of blue and purple.
- Salvia – size is variable depending on species/cultivar. There are MANY varieties of this perennial favorite available. Colors include blue, purple, pink, red. An all-time pollinator favorite!
- Sedum – size is variable depending on species/cultivar. Clustered flowers come in lots of colors and are prime for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Sempervivum (Hens n’ Chicks) – low-growing but size is variable depending on species/cultivar. Great for adding visual texture to hot spots in the garden or in containers. Bees and butterflies are drawn to its flowers.
*As with most plants, these perennials will need watering throughout their first summer in your garden. Once they are well-rooted (after at least one full year) they will need supplemental watering only in extreme droughts.
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